Dr. Alton Frederick Doody Jr., 76

Dr. Alton Frederick Doody Jr., 76, of Walloon Lake, a retail and marketing visionary and business mentor, died peacefully with his family at his side after a courageous battle with cancer.

As the founder and president of the Alton F. Doody Co., Doody possessed an extraordinary life changing character and continued through to the end to both challenge and inspire the many lives he touched.

After receiving a bachelor of arts degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1956, Doody went on to receive a master's degree in business administration in 1957 and a Ph.D. in 1961 from the Ohio State University, where he was a professor of marketing until 1972.

Doody began his worldwide consulting practice in 1964. He is the founder of Retail Planning Associates and co-founder of Applied Retail Systems and Management Horizons. He also served as director of Newell-Rubbermaid, Bravo Development Corporation, Floor & Decor, Inc., Grant Avenue Investments and Pet People, Inc.

Doody also served as first lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Former Captain and King of the Krewe of Hermes.

He has authored or co-authored Marketing in America, Retailing Management, and Reinventing the Wheels: Ford's Spectacular Comeback. He also wrote articles for The Harvard Business Review, the Journal of Marketing, and the Encyclopedia Britannica.

Doody served as a trustee of Ohio Wesleyan University, the National World War II Museum (where he was one of the founders) and Loyola University in New Orleans. Also, as a senior fellow at the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University and a member of the Dean's Advisory Council.

Among the many awards he has received are induction into the Institute of Store Planners' Retail Design Legion of Honor (2003); The Founder's Award for Distinguished Service Ohio Wesleyan University (1989); the Marketing Man of the Year Award from the American Marketing Association (1980); the Outstanding Teacher Award from Ohio State University (1972); and the Wholesaler of the Year Award (1970).

Dr. Doody was especially thankful to his caregiver and friend, Choung Do.

A memorial service to honor Alton's life will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 6, in Columbus, Ohio. A second memorial service will take place at 3 p.m. Monday, March 14, in New Orleans. Visit www.Schoedinger.com to share a memory with the family. Arrangements were handled by Schoedinger Northwest Chapel, Columbus, Ohio, (614) 457-5481.